Arts in Education Arts Curriculum Project

The Arkansas Arts Council, a division of Arkansas Heritage under the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, provides both federal and state funding to support artistic programs that benefit Arkansas communities, schools, and artists. These grants are funded through congressional appropriations to the National Endowment for the Arts and state allocations by the Arkansas General Assembly. Each year, the Council offers multiple grant opportunities, including those focused on arts in education. The Arts in Education (AIE) Arts Curriculum Project Grant aims to integrate or enhance arts curricula in educational institutions and nonprofit organizations. The grant is specifically designed to support projects that promote arts as an essential component of basic education. These projects must seek either to bolster existing arts programming or to establish new, ongoing arts curricula in participating schools or organizations. The selected teaching artists must come from the Arkansas Arts Council’s Arts in Education Artist Roster to ensure program quality and alignment with the Council’s educational goals. The grant awards up to $10,000 per project and mandates a 1:1 matching requirement, with 50% of the match permitted as in-kind contributions. It is open to schools, nonprofits, and governmental entities operating in Arkansas. Applications must be fully completed and submitted online through the Arkansas Arts Council’s Grants Portal. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered unless justified by uncontrollable events, such as natural disasters, and approved by the Council’s Executive Director. The FY25 AIE Arts Curriculum Project Grant application opens on October 15, 2024, and closes on February 3, 2025. A panel review for the applications will be held on April 16, 2025. Prior to submission, applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the Arts in Education Program Manager. The grant also follows strict funding restrictions; for instance, it does not cover staff or faculty salaries, entertainment expenses, lobbying, tuition, or capital expenditures. Applications must include a downloadable Excel budget form with no blank fields, ensuring total income equals total expenses. Definitions and guidelines for budget items are available through links on the grant website. Evaluations and funding decisions are made by a panel consisting of Arkansas Arts Council members and selected field experts, with final awards determined in the Council’s May meeting and officially awarded post-legislative review in July. For further assistance or information, applicants can reach out directly to Matt Boyce, the Arts in Education Program Manager, via phone at 501-324-9769 or through the email provided on the Council’s website.